FIRST TRIMESTER: WEEKS 1 to 12

BABY IS GROWING… “The foetus will develop all of its organs by the end of the first trimester, so this is a crucial time,” notes Dr Kelly Loi, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Health & Fertility Centre for Women. Your sweetie’s heart starts pumping at 4 weeks and the neural tube (the forerunner of the central nervous system, which comprises the spinal cord and brain) starts to close.

By week 7, the head develops; at week 8, the eyes take shape, while the toes and neck develop from weeks 9 to 10. By the time you reach the end of your first trimester, bubba’s genitals and nails would have been fully formed.

Muscles start forming at 20 weeks, and by 25 weeks, bubba might respond by kicking gently when he hears sounds.

YOUR HEALTH… While you may not look pregnant, your body is going through enormous changes such as fatigue, morning sickness, headaches, constipation, as well as swollen and tender breasts. Nausea may derail your healthy eating plans, so eat smaller more frequent meals. “Try five to six small meals a day to help ensure sufficient nutrient intake,” advises Dr Loi. If you’re throwing up a lot, drink more water to rehydrate. If you’re unable to retain fluids, see your doctor at once as you might have hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness. Your doctor will either prescribe meds to stop the vomiting, or admit you to hospital and put you on an intravenous drip to re-hydrate you.

SECOND TRIMESTER: WEEKS 13 to 27

BABY IS GROWING… Between weeks 13 and 15, the foetus’ skeleton and bones start to form. Since the genitals are fully formed by week 12, you can discover your baby’s gender at the next scan. Muscles start forming at 20 weeks, and by 25 weeks, bubba might respond by kicking gently when he hears sounds. When this trimester ends, your baby’s eyebrows and eyelashes would have grown, as would his finger- and toe-nails. His skin will produce vernix (a white pasty substance that protects skin from the surrounding amniotic fluid) and he’ll start looking more like an infant and less like some alien.

BOOST BUB’S GROWTH… Your body needs 500 to 700 more units of calcium during pregnancy to support your baby’s skeletal and dental growth. So, take a calcium supplement and eat more calcium-rich foods such as milk, tofu and dark leafy greens such as kale and spinach. It’s also a good time to start take a high-dose fish oil supplement as it will serve as brain food for bubba. Dr Loi advises, “Cut back on fat, salt and sugar but increase the intake of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes and low-fat dairy products.” And always avoid raw or undercooked meat, as well as unpasteurised dairy products as these may lead to infections such as toxoplasmosis and listeriosis, which can affect your unborn child.

Keeping active (even if it’s just a slow evening walk), is good for blood circulation and little one.

THIRD TRIMESTER: WEEKS 28 to 40

BABY IS GROWING… Your chubster will pack on the pounds from 34 weeks until he’s ready to emerge. By week 29, your baby should be moving about 10 times an hour. At week 30, his bones are fully developed, although they’ll remain soft and pliable, to help his journey down the birth canal. “The brain also increases in size and his nervous system would have matured to a stage where it can control the body’s temperature,” Dr Loi adds. As your sweetie hits the home stretch, his lungs should be strong enough for him to start breathing more independently.

YOUR HEALTH… “Water retention often becomes apparent or worsens in the last trimester,” Dr Chong notes. Sometimes, water retention at the wrists can compress the nerves, causing pins and needles or numbness. Flexing your wrists regularly or wearing a compression wristband can help with this situation. Try not to travel after 30 weeks. If you do, the flight should be less than seven hours as you are at a higher risk of getting deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in your leg from the extended period of inactivity). Go for your check-ups faithfully and monitor bubba’s movements closely. If he’s moving less as the days go by, call your doctor at once.